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Andover weighing in on Tewksbury slots proposal

Gaming-company officials hear from neighbors of Tewksbury site

By Katie Lannan, klannan@lowellsun.com

Updated:
08/03/2013 06:34:24 AM EDT

TEWKSBURY -- Representatives from the Pennsylvania-based company hoping to build a $200 million slots-only casino off of Route 133 met with Andover's town manager this week, a first step in mitigating the potential gaming establishment's impact on Tewksbury's neighbors.

Thursday's discussion at Tewksbury Town Hall followed a meeting between Penn National Gaming officials and Lowell City Manager Bernie Lynch on Wednesday.

Lowell and Andover are the two municipalities that Penn National has identified as "surrounding communities," giving them a seat at the table in the negotiation process.

"Those are the two we feel are directly impacted," said Jeff Morris, the company's director of public affairs.

Under the state's 2011 expanded gaming law, companies applying for a license must submit signed Surrounding Community Agreements that set forth conditions for having a gaming establishment nearby.

Part of a gaming company's $400,000 license application fee must be used to conduct impact studies for surrounding communities.

Penn National is one of five companies vying for the state's one slots-parlor license, pending approval by referendum in each town where such a facility has been pitched.

Surrounding community status would not give Andover or Lowell power to kill the casino deal but would allow each municipality to look out for its interests, with an agreement spelling out remedies for effects a slot parlor would have on public safety, water and sewer and other operations.

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Morris said this week's meeting with Andover Town Manager Buzz Stapczynski and Tewksbury Town Manager Richard Montuori was intended to start a dialogue with Andover, recognizing it as a surrounding community and giving background on the proposal.

Stapczynski declined to comment on the discussion or any potential impact of a casino, other than to say he was assigned to go to the meeting by his town's selectmen to gather facts, and will report what he learned at their Monday night meeting.

Andover Selectmen Chairman Alex Vispoli said he and his colleagues began to hear from residents in mid-July, after the slots plan was first announced. They raised worries Vispoli described as "high-level," dealing with traffic, public safety, property values, noise pollution and overall quality of life.

While the decision to green-light or shut down the casino plan lies only with Tewksbury voters, Vispoli said it feels like more of a regional issue, especially with the 300 Ames Pond Drive site "essentially a couple hundred feet from the boundary" and near Andover homes.

The Andover Board of Selectmen is hosting an informational forum at 7 p.m. Tuesday, bringing Mass Gaming Commission Ombudsman John Ziembra to the town's Memorial Hall Library to discuss the casino-licensing process and surrounding community status.

"Because this is such a short time frame, we really want to learn from residents as much as we can, as quickly as we can," Vispoli said.

Back over the border in Tewksbury, where residents will get their first chance to decide on the casino proposal at Special Town Meeting on Aug. 20, dueling education campaigns are under way.

Penn National canvassers, in green-and-white "Yes for Tewksbury" T-shirts have been going door to door talking to residents and distributing fliers with information about their company and the Hollywood Casino brand.

Meanwhile, residents against the proposal, who first organized on Facebook in a group called No Slots Tewksbury, have begun to hold in-person meetings and develop fliers of their own, aimed at specific groups, including families and homeowners. In social-media posts, opponents identify various concerns with the slots plan, including the proximity to schools, the threat of losing nearby businesses, the dangers of gambling addiction, the impact on traffic and the potential that the company's promises to the town will not be upheld.

The gaming company does not have any forums planned for residents at this point, although doing so was suggested at the July selectmen's meeting where the proposal was introduced. Morris said he has met with around six residents in their homes at their requests, and will continue to do so if asked. Penn National also welcomes questions at its 1120 Main St. office, he said.

At 7 p.m. on Tuesday, the Tewksbury Finance Committee will provide a venue for residents to weigh in, with a public hearing on the Special Town Meeting warrant. The warrant's sole article seeks to amend the zoning bylaws by creating an Ames Pond Overlay District allowing the parcel eyed by Penn National to be used for a gaming establishment.

The Finance Committee will issue either a "yes" or "no" recommendation for the zoning changes, as will the Planning Board. The Planning Board is set to take up the issue at its Aug. 12 meeting.

If the amendment clears Town Meeting with a two-thirds vote, the slots question will proceed to a Sept. 21 referendum.

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